Secret Service Head Will Not Step Down Despite Revelation Agents Knew of Threat Before Trump Went on Stage

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The Secret Service identified Matthew Thomas Crooks as a potential threat 10 minutes before former President Donald Trump took the stage at a rally where an assassination attempt nearly succeeded.

This alarming information, disclosed during a Senate briefing, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability within the agency and a call for U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign.

According to Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), the Secret Service spotted Crooks as “suspicious” an hour before the incident. He was carrying a range finder and a backpack – items that should have raised immediate red flags. Even more concerning, Barrasso stated, “The Secret Service lost sight of him.”

The situation grew more dire as the event approached. Just ten minutes before Trump was set to appear, the agency reportedly escalated Crooks’ status to that of a “threat.” Despite this critical designation, they inexplicably allowed the former president to proceed onto the stage, putting him in harm’s way.

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Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) described the incident as a “catastrophic failure,” highlighting the gravity of the situation.

In response to mounting pressure, Cheatle issued a statement defending her position:

“Continuity of operations is paramount during a critical incident and U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has no intentions to step down. She deeply respects members of Congress and is fiercely committed to transparency in leading the Secret Service through the internal investigation and strengthening the agency through lessons learned in these important internal and external reviews.”

However, this response has done little to quell the growing calls for her resignation. Several prominent Republican senators, including Marsha Blackburn (TN), Ted Cruz (TX), and McConnell (KY), have publicly demanded that Cheatle step down.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “Last week’s near-assassination of former President Trump was a grave attack on American democracy. The nation deserves answers and accountability.”

Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN) pointed out the glaring negligence stating, “I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service knew about a threat prior to President Trump walking on stage.”

As investigations continue, questions linger about how such a serious security breach could occur. Why wasn’t more decisive action taken when Crooks was first identified as suspicious? How did the Secret Service lose track of a potential threat in a controlled environment? And most critically, why was Trump allowed to take the stage when a threat had been identified just moments before?

These unanswered questions reveal a troubling pattern of mismanagement and poor decision-making within the Secret Service. The agency’s primary mission is to protect high-profile individuals, especially former presidents.

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In this instance, they came dangerously close to failing in that crucial task. The buck stops with Cheatle.

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